Herbicidal picolinamide derivatives

ABSTRACT

Herbicidal picolinamide derivatives are provided having the formula I ##STR1## which Z represents an oxygen or sulphur atom, R 1  and R 2  each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, alkylcarbonyl, amino, mono- or di-alkylamino, alkoxycarbonylamino, arylamino, arylalkylamino or dialkylcarbamoyl group, or together represent an alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by an oxygen or sulphur atom or by a group --NR-- in which R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R 3  independently represents a halogen atom or an alkyl or haloalkyl group, R 4 , R 5  and R 6  each independently represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, amino, mono- or di-alkylamino, alkoxycarbonylamino, arylamino, dialkylcarbamoyl, acyl or acylamido group or a cyano group, with the proviso that R 5  and R 6  do not represent an acyl, acylamido or cyano group, and n represents 0, 1, 2 or 3.

This is a 371 of PCT/EP93/02925 filed Oct. 21, 1993 now WO 94/08991 Apr. 28, 1994.

The invention relates to certain pyrazolyloxypicolinamide derivatives, process for their preparation, compositions containing such compounds and their use as herbicides to combat undesired plant growth.

The herbicidal activity of 2-phenoxy-3-pyridine carboxamide compounds is well known. In 1981 and 1982 three U.S. patent specifications were published, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,251,263, 4,270,946 and 4,327,218, directed to A. D. Gutman's work on 2-phenoxynitcotinamide herbicides. His later review articles, Chapter 5 of "Synthesis and Chemistry of Agrochemicals" (1987) published by the American Chemical Society, shows that his investigations started with 2-phenoxynicotinic acids (which were found to be inactive) progressed to N-alkyl amide derivatives (found to have weak herbicidal activity), and then concentrated on N-phenyl and N-benzyl amides as the most active of the compound type. Indeed, diflufenican N-(2,4-difluoro-phenyl)-2-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-3-pyridine carboxamide! was subsequently developed, by a different research group, as a commercial herbicide for use against broad-leaved weeds in winter cereals, such as winter wheat and barley.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,263 is concerned with the N-alkyl amides of Gutman, and related N-alkenyl and N-alkynyl amides. The compound documented as being the most active of the aliphatic amides prepared and tested is N-(1,1-dimethylprop-2-ynyl)-2-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-3-pyridine carboxamide, which gives 85% control pre-emergence and only 57% control post-emergence on specified narrow- and broad-leaved species.

EP-A-0488474 discloses herbicidal 2-phenoxy-6-pyridine carboxamide compounds of the general formula: ##STR2## wherein n is an integer from 1 to 5 and the or each X independently represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, an alkyl group optionally substituted by one or more of the same or different substituents selected from halogen atoms and cyano, hydroxy and alkoxy groups, or a cyano, nitro, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio or alkylnylthio group;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 3 and the or each Y independently represents a halogen atom or an alkyl or haloalkyl group;

Z represents an oxygen atom or a sulphur atom; and

R'¹ and R'² each, independently, represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group optionally substituted by one or more of the same or different substituents selected from halogen atoms or hydroxy, cyano, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkoxycarbonyl, or mono- or di-alkylamino groups, an alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or optionally substituted cycloalkylalkyl group, or a hydroxy, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, amino, mono- or di-alkylamino, alkoxycarbonylamino group, an arylamino group optionally substituted by a halogen atom, or a dialkylcarbamoyl group; or

R'¹ and R'² together represent an alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by an oxygen or sulphur atom or by a group --NR-- in which R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.

It has now been found that certain new pyrazolyloxy-picolinamide compounds show excellent herbicidal activity against representative narrow- and broad-leaved test species in pre- and/or post-emergence application, certain examples exhibiting 90 to 100% effectiveness against test species both pre- and post-emergence.

The present invention therefore relates to compounds of the general formula I ##STR3## in which Z represents an oxygen or sulphur atom,

R¹ and R² each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl group or one but not both of R¹ and R² may additionally represent a hydroxy group or an optionally substituted alkoxy, alkenyloxy,.alkynyloxy, alkylcarbonyl, amino, mono- or di-alkylamino, alkoxycarbonylamino, arylamino, arylalkylamino or dialkylcarbamoyl group, or together R¹ and R² represent an alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by an oxygen or sulphur atom or by a group --NH-- in which R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group,

R³ or each R³ independently represents halogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, dialkylamino or haloalkyl group,

R⁴ represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, dialkylcarbamoyl, acyl or cyano group, and

R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, amino, mono- or di-alkylamino, alkoxycarbonylamino, arylamino, dialkylcarbamoyl group, and

n represents 0, 1, 2 or 3.

The invention especially relates to compounds of the general formula I in which any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl part of any of the substituents R¹ to R⁶ contains up to 12 carbon atoms, preferably up to 10 carbon atoms, any cycloalkyl part of any of the substituents R¹ to R⁶ contains from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, any alkylene chain, optionally interrupted by an oxygen or sulphur atom or by a group --NR-- in which R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, contains from 2 to 8 chain members, preferably from 2 to 6 chain members and any aryl part of any of the substituents R¹ to R⁶ contains 6, 10 or 14 carbon atoms, preferably 6 or 10 carbon atoms, and in which said optional substituents are selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms or nitro, cyano, alkyl, preferably C₁₋₆ alkyl, haloalkyl, preferably C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, alkoxy, preferably C₁₋₆ alkoxy, haloalkoxy, preferably C₁₋₆ haloalkoxy, optionally substituted amino, formyl, alkoxycarbonyl, preferably C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, phenyl or halo- or dihalo-phenyl groups. Optionally substituted amino groups include amino groups substituted by one or two groups selected from alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, arylalkyl and aralkyl groups, in particular alkylamino, dialkylamino, arylmethylamino and arylamino. Any acyl group includes formyl, optionally substituted alkyl carbonyl and optionally substituted aryl carbonyl groups. Any alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group may be linear or branched. Preferred alkyl substituents are at least methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and pentyl. A preferred aryl substituent is a phenyl group. A halogen atom suitably denotes a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom.

The invention especially relates to compounds of the general formula I in which Z represents an oxygen atom.

The invention especially relates to compounds of the general formula I in which R¹ and R² each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₈ alkenyl, C₁₋₈ alkynyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl) C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, phenyl, naphthyl, phen-C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₈ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ dialkylamino or phenylamino group, each group optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms or C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylamino, C₁₋₄ dialkylamino, cyano or phenyl amino groups, or together represent a C₂₋₆ alkylene chain, with the proviso that only one of R¹ and R² represents an optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₈ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ dialkylamino or phenylamino group. Preferably R¹ represents a C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkenyl, C₁₋₆ alkynyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, C₁₋₄ alkylamino, C₁₋₄ dialkylamino or phenylamino group, each group optionally substituted by one or more fluorine, chlorine or bromine atoms, especially fluorine or chlorine atoms, or a cyano, C₁₋₄ alkyl or C₁₋₄ alkoxy group, and R² represents a hydrogen atom or a C₁₋₄ alkyl group.

The invention especially relates to compounds of the general formula I in which R³ represents a methyl, methoxy, methylthio or dimethylamino group, preferably methyl. The substituent(s) R³ may be at any free position or combination of positions on the pyridyl ring. A preferred position is the 4-position.

The invention further especially relates to compounds of the general formula I in which R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a cyano group or a C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₁₋₄ acyl, C₁₋₄ alkenyl, phenyl or naphthyl group, each group optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms, especially fluorine atoms, or C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylamino, C₁₋₄ dialkylamino or aryl amino groups, with the proviso that R⁴ does not represent a cyano group or an optionally substituted C₁₋₄ acyl group.

The invention also especially relates to compounds of the general formula I in which R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom, a C₁₋₄ alkyl group or a phenyl group optionally substituted by a halogen atom, R⁵ represents a hydrogen atom or a C₁₋₆ alkyl or phenyl group, each group optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms, especially fluorine atoms, or represents a C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl group and R⁶ represents a hydrogen atom or a C₁₋₄ alkyl group, optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms.

The invention especially relates to compounds of the general formula I in which n represents 0 or 1.

A particularly preferred sub-group of compounds of the general formula I is that in which R¹ represents a methyl, ethyl, propyl, allyl, butyl, pentyl, including neopentyl, methylallyl, propynyl, dimethylpropynyl, methoxyethyl, cyanomethyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, chloroethyl, trifluoroethyl, cyclopropylmethyl, dichlorocyclopropylmethyl, t-butoxy, phenyl, fluorophenyl, difluorophenyl, trifluoroethylamino, butylamino, dimethylamino, phenylamino or fluorophenylamino group. Another particularly preferred sub-group of compounds of the general formula I is that in which R² represents hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl or cyclopropylmethyl or in which R¹ and R² together represent a ethylene chain.

Further preferred subgroups of the general formula I are those in which R⁴ represents methyl, ethyl or phenyl, in which R⁵ represents hydrogen, methyl, trifluoromethyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl or cyclopropyl, and in which R⁶ represents hydrogen or methyl.

The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula I as defined hereinbefore, which comprises reacting a compound of the general formula II, or an activated derivative thereof, ##STR4## in which R³ and n are as defined hereinbefore, and Q represents a leaving group or a group ##STR5## in which the substituents are as defined hereinbefore, with a compound of the general formula III

    HNR.sup.1 R.sup.2                                          III

in which the substituents are as defined hereinbefore, and, in the case that Q represents a leaving group, followed by reaction of the product obtained with a compound of the general formula IV ##STR6## in which the substituents are defined hereinbefore, while in the case that R¹ and/or R² represent a hydrogen atom, this hydrogen atom may be exchanged by another substituent within the definition of R¹ and/or R² by reaction with a suitable agent such as an alkylating agent.

A leaving group is any group that will, under the reaction conditions, cleave from the starting material, thus enabling substitution at that specific site. The leaving group Q may suitably be a halogen atom, for example a bromine atom or, especially, a chlorine atom, an alkoxy group, suitably C₁₋₄ alkoxy, especially methoxy, an alkyl- or aryl-sulphonium group, especially a C₁₋₆ alkyl-, phenyl- or tolyl-sulphonium group, or an alkyl- or aryl-sulphonic acid group, especially a C₁₋₆ alkyl-, phenyl- or tolyl-sulphonium group.

Activated derivatives of the compounds of the general formula II are compounds in which the hydroxy group of the acid function has been replaced by a suitable leaving group, for instance a halogen atom, for example a bromine atom, or especially, a chlorine atom, an alkoxy group, suitably C₁₋₄ alkoxy, especially methoxy, or an imidazole group.

The process is suitably carried out in the presence of an organic solvent, for example dimethylformamide or dimethylsulphoxide, or an aromatic hydrocarbon, for example benzene or toluene, or a halogenated hydrocarbon, for example dichloromethane, or an ether, for example diethyl ether, or an ester, for example ethyl acetate.

The process is suitably carried out at a temperature in the range of 0° to 100° C., preferably at the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture, and suitably in the presence of a base, for example potassium hydroxide, and a copper catalyst, such as cuprous chloride.

Suitably the reaction is carried out using substantially equimolar amounts of the reactants. However, it can be expedient to use one reactant in excess.

Compounds of the general formula I in which Z represents a sulphur atom are suitably prepared by reaction of a compound of the general formula I, or a precursor thereof, later on followed by one or more additional reactions, in which Z represents an oxygen atom, with phosphorous pentasulphide under standard reaction conditions, for example by heating, suitably under reflux, in the presence of an inert organic solvent, suitably an organic solvent, for example benzene, toluene, pyridine or quinoline.

The compounds of the present invention may be isolated and purified by conventional techniques, for example by solvent extraction, evaporation followed by recrystallisation or by chromatography on for example silica or alumina.

The conversion of a resultant compound of the general formula I into a further compound of the general formula I may suitably be carried out by reaction with an alkyl halide. Suitably the alkyl halide is an alkyl iodide, bromide or chloride.

The compound of the general formula ##STR7## in which the substituents are defined hereinbefore are either commercially available or may be prepared as described in the literature, for example in J. Het. Chem. 28 (1991), p. 1971ff, and J. Het. Chem. 27 (1990), p. 243ff. For the synthesis of chloropicolinic acid reference is made to J. Pharm. Belg. 35 (1980), 5-11.

The reaction of the compounds obtained by reaction of compounds of the general formula II in which Q represents a leaving group, with a substituted hydroxypyrazole is suitably carried out in the presence of an organic solvent, for example dimethylformamide or dimethylsulphoxide, or an aromatic hydrocarbon, for example benzene or toluene, or a halogenated hydrocarbon, for example dichloromethane, or an ether, for example diethyl ether, or an ester, for example ethyl acetate. The process is suitably carried out at a temperature in the range of 0° to 100° C., preferably at the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture, and suitably in the presence of a base, for example potassium hydroxide, and a copper catalyst, such as cuprous chloride.

Activated derivatives of compounds of the general formula II may be prepared from the corresponding acids by standard methods for the preparation of, for example, esters, using, for example alcohols and acid catalysts or thionyl chloride, or of acid chlorides and bromides, using, for example, thionyl chloride or thionyl bromide, or of imidazole derivatives, using, for example, carbonyl diimidazole. The acid compounds themselves can be prepared by standard methods from chloropicolinic acid or esters thereof.

The substituted amines of the general formula III are either known or can be prepared by standard techniques.

Compounds of the general formula II in which Z represents an oxygen atom and Q is the group ##STR8## (further indicated as general formula VI) may suitably be prepared by hydrolysis of compounds of the general formula V ##STR9## in which R³ to R⁶ and n are as defined above. This reaction is suitably carried out in the presence of an solvent such as water or ethylene glycol, using as reactants acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid or bases such as potassium or sodium hydroxide, at a temperature in the range of 0°-150 ° C.

Compounds of the general formula V have been found to exhibit herbicidal activity and form another aspect of the invention.

Compounds of general formula V may be prepared by reaction of a compound of the general formula ##STR10## in which Q is as defined above, with a compound of the general formula ##STR11## in which the substituents are as defined above.

The process is suitably carried out in the presence of an organic solvent, for example dimethylformamide, preferably at the reflux temperature of the reaction mixture, and suitably in the presence of a base, for example potassium carbonate.

The compounds of the invention have been found to have a surprisingly high herbicidal activity with a wide spectrum of activity against grasses and, especially, broadleaved weeds. Examples have been found to show selectivity to cereals, for example maize, wheat, barley and rice, and to broad-leaved crops, for example soya, sunflower and cotton, indicating that they may be useful in combating weeds growing in such crops.

The invention further provides a herbicidal composition comprising a compound of formula I or a compound of formula V as defined above in association with a carrier, and a method of making such a composition which comprises bringing a compound of formula I or a compound of formula V into association with a carrier.

The invention also provides the use of such a compound or composition according to the invention as a herbicide. Further in accordance with the invention there is provided a method of combating undesired plant growth at a locus by treating the locus with a compound or composition according to the invention. Application to the locus may be pre-emergence or post-emergence. The dosage of active ingredient used, may, for example, be in the range of from 0.01 to 10 kg/ha, suitably 0.05 to 4 kg/ha. The locus may, for example, be the soil or plants in a crop area, typical crops being cereals such as wheat and barley, and broad-leaved crops, such as soya, sunflower and cotton.

A carrier in a composition according to the invention is any material with which the active ingredient is formulated to facilitate application to the locus to be treated, which may for example be a plant, seed or soil, or to facilitate storage, transport or handling. A carrier may be a solid or a liquid, including a material which is normally gaseous but which has been compressed to form a liquid, and any of the carriers normally used in formulating herbicidal compositions may be used. Preferably compositions according to the invention contain 0.5 to 95% by weight of active ingredient.

Suitable solid carriers include natural and synthetic clays and silicates, for example natural silicas such as diatomaceous earths; magnesium silicates, for example talcs; magnesium aluminium silicates, for example attapulgites and vermiculites; aluminium silicates, for example kaolinites, montmorillonites and micas; calcium carbonate; calcium sulphate; ammonium sulphate; synthetic hydrated silicon oxides and synthetic calcium or aluminium silicates; elements, for example carbon and sulphur; natural and synthetic resins, for example coumarone resins, polyvinyl chloride, and styrene polymers and copolymers; solid polychlorophenols; bitumen; waxes; and solid fertilisers, for example superphosphates.

Suitable liquid carriers include water; alcohols, for example isopropanol and glycols; ketones, for example acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone; ethers; aromatic or araliphatic hydrocarbons, for example benzene, toluene and xylene; petroleum fractions, for example kerosine and light mineral oils; chlorinated hydrocarbons, for example carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene and trichloroethane. Mixtures of different liquids are often suitable.

Agricultural compositions are often formulated and transported in a concentrated form which is subsequently diluted by the user before application. The presence of small amounts of a carrier which is a surface-active agent facilitates this process of dilution. Thus preferably at least one carrier in a composition according to the invention is a surface-active agent. For example the composition may contain at least two carriers, at least one of which is a surface-active agent.

A surface-active agent may be an emulsifying agent, a dispersing agent or a wetting agent; it may be nonionic or ionic. Examples of suitable surface-active agents include the sodium or calcium salts of polyacrylic acids and lignin sulphonic acids; the condensation products of fatty acids or aliphatic amines or amides containing at least 12 carbon atoms in the molecule with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide; fatty acid esters of glycerol, sorbitol, sucrose or pentaerythritol; condensates of these with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide; condensation products of fatty alcohol or alkyl phenols, for example p-octylphenol or p-octylcresol, with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide; sulphates or sulphonates of these condensation products; alkali or alkaline earth metal salts, preferably sodium salts, of sulphuric or sulphonic acid esters containing at least 10 carbon atoms in the molecule, for example sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium secondary alkyl sulphates, sodium salts of sulphonated castor oil, and sodium alkylaryl sulphonates such as dodecylbenzene sulphonate; and polymers of ethylene oxide and copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

The compositions of the invention may for example be formulated as wettable powders, dusts, granules, solutions, emulsifiable concentrates, emulsions, suspension concentrates and aerosols. Wettable powders usually contain 25, 50 or 75% w of active ingredient and usually contain in addition to solid inert carrier, 3-10% w of a dispersing agent and, where necessary, 0-10% w of stabiliser(s) and/or other additives such as penerrants or stickers. Dusts are usually formulated as a dust concentrate having a similar composition to that of a wettable powder but without a dispersant, and are diluted in the field with further solid carrier to give a composition usually containing 1/2-10% w of active ingredient. Granules are usually prepared to have a size between 10 and 100 BS mesh (1.676-0.152 mm), and may be manufactured by agglomeration or impregnation techniques. Generally, granules will contain 1/2-75% w active ingredient and 0-10% w of additives such as stabilisers, surfactants, slow release modifiers and binding agents. The so-called "dry flowable powders" consist of relatively small granules having a relatively high concentration of active ingredient. Emulsifiable concentrates usually contain, in addition to a solvent and, when necessary, co-solvent, 10-50% w/v active ingredient, 2-20% w/v emulsifiers and 0-20% w/v of other additives such as stabilisers, penerrants and corrosion inhibitors. Suspension concentrates are usually compounded so as to obtain a stable, non-sedimenting flowable product and usually contain 10-75% w active ingredient, 0.5-15% w of dispersing agents, 0.1-10% w of suspending agents such as protective colloids and thixotropic agents, 0-10% w of other additives such as defoamers, corrosion inhibitors, stabilisers, penerrants and stickers, and water or an organic liquid in which the active ingredient is substantially insoluble; certain organic solids or inorganic salts may be present dissolved in the formulation to assist in preventing sedimentation or as anti-freeze agents for water.

Aqueous dispersions and emulsions, for example compositions obtained by diluting a wettable powder or a concentrate according to the invention with water, also lie within the scope of the invention. The said emulsions may be of the water-in-oil or of the oil-in-water type, and may have a thick `mayonnaise`-like consistency.

The composition of the invention may also contain other ingredients, for example compounds possessing insecticidal or fungicidal properties or other herbicides.

The following Examples illustrate the invention; Examples 1 to 9 illustrate the preparation of intermediates of general formula IV; Examples 41 to 52 illustrate the preparation of intermediates of general formula V; Examples 53 to 59 illustrate the preparation of intermediates of general formula VI; and Examples 10 to 40 and 60 to 177 illustrate the preparation of compounds of general formula I. All structures were confirmed by mass spectroscopy and/or 300'H nmr.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-chloro-6-pyridinecarboxamide

6-Chloropicolinic acid (25 g) in 50 ml thionyl chloride was stirred and heated to reflux for two hours. The excess thionyl chloride was evaporated in vacuo and 200 ml diethylether was added to the residual 6-chloropicolinoyl chloride. A solution of 18.5 g 4-fluoroaniline in 20 ml diethylether was added with stirring, maintaining the temperature below 20°. After the addition, the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at ambient temperature. 100 ml of water was added to the reaction mixture and the organic layer separated. After a further washing with water and drying with anhydrous magnesium sulphate, the solvent was removed in vacuo to give the title compound (30 g, 75%) as a pale brown solid of mp 98°.

EXAMPLES 2 TO 9

By methods analogous to that of example 1, further compounds of the general formula IV were prepared by reaction of compounds of the general formula III with 6-chloropicolinic acid. Details are given in Table I.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                          ##STR12##                                                                     Example                        mp   Yield                                      No.       R.sup.1      R.sup.2 (°C.)                                                                        (%)                                        ______________________________________                                         2         phenyl       H       90   87                                         3         2-F-phenyl   H       88   91                                         4         CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                           H       82   95                                         5         i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                           H       oil  82                                         6         cyclopropyl  H       77   71                                         7         C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                             H       oil  88                                         8         2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                         H       102  69                                         9         phenyl       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        oil  52                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(1',3'-dimethylpyrazol-5'-yloxy)-6-pyridinecarboxamid

2.2 g of 1,3-dimethyl-5-hydroxypyrazol was added to a solution of 1.1 g potassium hydroxide in 40 ml methanol. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo after toluene was added to give the anhydrous potassium salt. The residue was resolved in 15 ml anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide. After the addition of 5 g N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-chloro-6-pyridinecarboxamide and 0.2 g CuCl the mixture was heated to reflux for 6 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was poured into 200 ml water and 200 ml ethyl acetate. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous phase extracted one more time with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate (7/3). The title compound was obtained as a white solid (2 g, 31%), mp 114°.

EXAMPLES 11 TO 40

By methods analogous to that of example 10, further compounds of the general formula I were prepared by reaction of compounds of the general formula IV with substituted 5-hydroxypyrazoles. Details are given in Table II.

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR13##                                                                     Example                               mp  Yield                                No.   R                R.sup.1   R.sup.2                                                                             (°C.)                                                                       (%)                                  __________________________________________________________________________     11    1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                           phenyl    H    115 62                                   12    1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                           2-F-phenyl                                                                               H    119 28                                   13    1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                           CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                        H    105 34                                   14    1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 iC.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                         H    oil 83                                   15    1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 cyclopropyl                                                                              H    56  80                                   16    1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          H    oil 41                                   17    1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                      H    100 78                                   18    1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 phenyl    H    115 80                                   19    1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                        H    84  74                                   20    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                      H    95  67                                   21    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                        H    81  61                                   22    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  phenyl    H    109 78                                   23    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  cyclopropyl                                                                              H    95  35                                   24    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  4-F-phenyl                                                                               H    104 92                                   25    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  iC.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                         H    oil 59                                   26    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          H    oil 30                                   27    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  CH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2                                                             H    51  43                                   28    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 4-F-phenyl                                                                               H    105 88                                   29    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                      H    97  81                                   30    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 phenyl    H    112 80                                   31    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 cyclopropyl                                                                              H    64  30                                   32    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 iC.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                         H    oil 82                                   33    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          H    57  56                                   34    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                        H    78  47                                   35    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 CH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2                                                             H    oil 76                                   36    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 CH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2                                                             H    38  32                                   37    1-CH.sub.3 -3-cyclopropyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       4-F-phenyl                                                                               H    139 45                                   38    1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          phenyl                                                                              69  77                                   39    1-CH.sub.3 -3-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          phenyl                                                                              83  40                                   40    1-CH.sub.3 -3-iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                 C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          phenyl                                                                              62  44                                   __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 41 Preparation of 2-(1',3'-dimethyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy)-pyridine-6-carbonitrile

5.6 g of 1,3-dimethyl-5-hydroxypyrazole (50 mmol) was added to a suspension of 7.7 g 2-chloro-6-cyanopyridine (55 mmol) and 7.6 g K₂ CO₃ (55 mmol) in 50 ml N,N-dimethylformamide and heated to reflux with vigorous stirring for 5 hours. After cooling, the mixture was poured into water (100 ml) and the aqueous layer extracted 3 times with each 100 ml ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate 7/3. The title compound was obtained after recrystallisation from isopropanol as 5.9 g (55%) of white crystals of m.p. 95° C.

EXAMPLES 42 TO 52

By methods analogous to that of Example 41, further compounds of the general formula V were prepared by reaction of substituted 5-hydroxypyrazoles with 2-chloro-6-cyanopyridine. Details are given in Table III.

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                          ##STR14##                                                                     Example                      mp      Yield                                     No     R                     (°C.)                                                                           (%)                                       ______________________________________                                         42     1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                              112     72                                        43     1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                                 109     66                                        44     1-(3-Cl-phenyl)-3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          95      24                                        45     1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                      80      64                                        46     1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                      81      82                                        47     1-phenyl-3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                                 109     58                                        48     1,3-(phenyl).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                                  124     18                                        49     1-phenyl-3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                                 165     62                                        50     1-phenyl-3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       82      34                                        51     1,3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                              92      64                                        52     1-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       95      83                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 53 Preparation of 2-(1',3'-dimethyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy)-pyridine-6-carboxylic acid

2-(1',3'-dimethyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy)-pyridine-6-carbonitrile (25 g, 0.11 mol) (from Example 41) were suspended in concentrated hydrochloric acid (100 ml) and heated to reflux for 30 minutes. After cooling, the mixture was diluted with 400 ml of water to precipitate the title compound as a white solid (14.1 g, 52%), mp 182° C.

EXAMPLES 54 TO 59

By methods analogous to that of example 53, further compounds of the general formula VI were prepared by hydrolysis of compounds of the general formula V. Details are given in Table IV.

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                          ##STR15##                                                                     Example                      mp      Yield                                     No      R                    (°C.)                                                                           (%)                                       ______________________________________                                         54      1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             161     40                                        55      1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                                161     50                                        56      1-phenyl-3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                                156     50                                        57      1-phenyl-3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                      165     50                                        58      1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                     145     25                                        59      1-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                      163     67                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 60 Preparation of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(1'-methyl-3'-trifluoro-methyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy)-6-pyridinecarboxamide (Method A)

2-(1'-methyl-3'-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy)-pyridine-6-carboxylic acid (2.9 g, 10 mmol) (from Example 54) in thionyl chloride was heated to reflux for 30 minutes. The excess thionyl chloride was evaporated in vacuo and acetonitrile (30 ml) was added to the residue. A solution of 4-fluoroaniline (1.1 ml, 11 mmol) and triethylamine (3 ml) was added with stirring at ambient temperature and the mixture was left overnight. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue resolved in ethyl acetate (50 ml). After extracting with dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide, the organic layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the crude product purified by flash silica gel column chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate 1/1. The title compound was obtained as a white solid (2.9 g, 76%), mp 136° C.

EXAMPLES 61 TO 109

By methods analogous to that of Example 60, further compounds of the general formula I in which R² represents hydrogen were prepared by conversion of compounds of the general formula VI into activated derivatives thereof and then reaction with compounds of the general formula III. Details are given in Table V.

                                      TABLE V                                      __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR16##                                                                                                   mp  Yield                                        Ex. No.                                                                             R              R.sup.1   (°C.)                                                                       (%)                                          __________________________________________________________________________     61   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          3-F-phenyl                                                                               140 16                                           62   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       phenyl    127 55                                           63   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       3-F-phenyl                                                                               153 71                                           64   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                                                      oil 64                                           65   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                        oil 69                                           66   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                      150 75                                           67   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       nC.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                         86  63                                           68   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       iC.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                         83  84                                           69   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       iC.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                         84  83                                           70   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       sC.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                         57  56                                           71   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Cl                                                                     103 34                                           72   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.2 CN                                                                              151 36                                           73   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       cyclopentyl                                                                              119 45                                           74   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3                                                              60  58                                           75   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 CCH                                                                    64  68                                           76   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.3  92  35                                           77   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       2',2'-Cl.sub.2 -cyclo-                                                                   109 69                                                               propyl-CH.sub.2                                            78   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.2 CCH                                                                             86  62                                           79   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          89  54                                           80   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          phenyl    199 12                                           81   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                      135 63                                           82   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          cyclopropyl                                                                              112 14                                           83   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       nC.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                         67  56                                           84   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       nC.sub.5 H.sub.11                                                                        62  51                                           85   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       3,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                      140 60                                           86   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 O                                                                       108 12                                           87   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.2 (CH.sub.3).sub.3                                                                89  43                                           88   1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                               CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                        93  39                                           89   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          sC.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                         68  9                                            90   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          iC.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                         82  6                                            91   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                        147 50                                           92   1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                               4-F-phenyl                                                                               104 58                                           93   1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                               4-F-phenyl                                                                               120 39                                           94   1,3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       4-F-phenyl                                                                               125 46                                           95   1,3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       cyclopropyl                                                                              oil 14                                           96   1,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                         4-F-phenyl                                                                               132 41                                           97   1-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                4-F-phenyl                                                                               116 65                                           98   1-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                phenyl    126 41                                           99   1-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                cyclopropyl                                                                              80  52                                           100  1-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                sC.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                         oil 63                                           101  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       cyclopropyl-CH.sub.2                                                                     78  71                                           102  1-C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                cyclobutyl                                                                               45  27                                           103  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       cyclobutyl                                                                               93  40                                           104  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                       CH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2                                                             oil 67                                           105  1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                               cyclopropyl                                                                              oil 73                                           106  1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                               iC.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                         oil 76                                           107  1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                               C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          oil 26                                           108  1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                               phenyl    104 40                                           109  1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                               2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                      133 54                                           __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES 110 TO 114

By methods analogous to that of example 60, further compounds of the general formula I were prepared by conversion of compounds of the general formula VI into activated derivatives thereof and then reaction with compounds of the general formula III. Details are given in Table VI.

                  TABLE VI                                                         ______________________________________                                          ##STR17##                                                                     Ex-                                                                            ample                              mp   Yield                                  No.   R                 R.sup.1 /R.sup.2                                                                          (°C.)                                                                        (%)                                    ______________________________________                                         110   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.3 /CH.sub.3                                                                        oil  57                                     111   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          C.sub.2 H.sub.5 /C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                          74   44                                     112   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2                                                                         71   21                                                             (cyclo)                                                113   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 /                                                                        oil  64                                                             cyclopropyl-                                                                   CH.sub.2                                               114   1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  C.sub.2 H.sub.5 /phenyl                                                                   85   24                                     ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 115 Preparation of N-(3-fluorophenyl)-2-(1',3'-dimethyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy)-6-pyridine-carboxamide (Method B)

To a solution of 2-(1',3'-dimethyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy)-pyridine-6-carboxylic acid (2.2 g, 9.6 mmol) (from Example 53) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (20 ml) was added carbonyldiimidazole (1.6 g, 10.6 mmol) and stirred for 30 minutes, maintaining the temperature up to 40° C. 3-fluoroaniline (1.1 ml, 10.6 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture heated to 50° C. After 2 hours, the clear mixture was poured into water (100 ml) and extracted three times with ethyl acetate (50 ml each). The combined extracts were dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate 1/1. The title compound was obtained as a white solid (1.7 g, 54%), mp 110° C.

EXAMPLES 116 TO 126

By methods analogous to that of Example 115, further compounds of the general formula I in which R² represents hydrogen were prepared by conversion of compounds of the general formula VI into activated derivatives thereof and then reaction with compounds of the general formula NH₂ R¹. Details are given in Table VII.

                  TABLE VII                                                        ______________________________________                                          ##STR18##                                                                                                        mp   Yield                                  Ex. No.                                                                              R                 R.sup.1    (°C.)                                                                        (%)                                    ______________________________________                                         116   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          cyclopropyl                                                                               117  76                                     117   1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            cyclopropyl                                                                               106  46                                     118   1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                       114  54                                     119   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             4-F-phenyl 131  44                                     120   1-phenyl-3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             3-F-phenyl 134  70                                     121   1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                                                        76  22                                     122   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          iC.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                           93  26                                     123   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                         oil  21                                     124   1-phenyl-3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-                                                          phenyl      76  48                                           5-yloxy                                                                  125   1-phenyl-3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-                                                          4-F-phenyl 147  77                                           5-yloxy                                                                  126   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                                                       oil  25                                     ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 127 Preparation of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-methyl-2-(1'-methyl-3'-trifluoromethylpyrazol-5'-yloxy)-6-pyridinecarboxamide

Sodium hydride (0.12 g, 3 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(1'-methyl-3'-trifluoromethylpyrazol-5'-yloxy)-6-pyridinecarboxamide (1.14 g, 3 mmol) (from Example 60) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (10 ml). After gas evolution has ceased, methyl iodide (0.37 ml, 6 mmol) was added and the mixture was heated to reflux for 10 minutes. After cooling, the mixture was poured into water (50 ml) and ethyl acetate (50 ml). The organic layer was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted in addition with ethyl acetate (50 ml). The combined extracts were dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate 1/1. The title compound was obtained as a yellow glassy oil (0.8 g, 68%).

EXAMPLES 128 TO 169

By methods analogous to that of Example 127, further compounds of the general formula I were prepared by conversion of compounds of the general formula I in which R² represents hydrogen. Details are given in Table VIII.

                  TABLE VIII                                                       ______________________________________                                          ##STR19##                                                                     Ex.                                mp   Yield                                  No.  R                 R.sup.1 /R.sup.2                                                                           (°C.)                                                                        (%)                                    ______________________________________                                         128  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          cycloprop./CH.sub.3                                                                        oil  73                                     129  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          cycloprop./C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                 oil  38                                     130  1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                            oil  45                                     131  1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            3-F-phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                        oil  75                                     132  1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            4-F-phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                        oil  75                                     133  1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            cycloprop./CH.sub.3                                                                        oil  48                                     134  1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl/                                                                       oil  48                                                            CH.sub.3                                                135  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl/                                                                        78  56                                                            C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                         136  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          4-F-phenyl/C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                  87  69                                     137  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                             71  74                                     138  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          phenyl/C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                      92  77                                     139  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          3-F-phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                        oil  61                                     140  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2 /                                                                      oil  71                                                            CH.sub.3                                                141  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 /CH.sub.3                                                                oil  90                                     142  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 /C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                         oil  70                                     143  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl/                                                                       108  82                                                            CH.sub.3                                                144  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 /CH.sub.3                                                                 oil  68                                     145  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 /C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                          oil  49                                     146  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 /CH.sub.3                                                                 oil  76                                     147  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          iC.sub.3 H.sub.7 /C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                          oil  36                                     148  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          iC.sub.4 H.sub.9 /CH.sub.3                                                                 oil  73                                     149  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          iC.sub.4 H.sub.9 /CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                        oil  40                                     150  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          sC.sub.4 H.sub.9 /CH.sub.3                                                                 oil  47                                     151  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          sC.sub.4 H.sub.9 /C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                          oil  39                                     152  1-phenyl-3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             4-F-phenyl/C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                 100  46                                     153  1-phenyl-3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             2,4-F.sub.2 -phenyl/                                                                       oil  27                                                            C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                         154  1-phenyl-3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             3-F-phenyl/C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                 105  26                                     155  1-phenyl-3-CH.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                            oil  34                                     156  1,3-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                            iC.sub.4 H.sub.9 /CH.sub.3                                                                 oil  44                                     157  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 /nC.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                          73  65                                     158  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          C.sub.2 H.sub.5 /CH.sub.3                                                                  oil  30                                     159  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          2',2'-Cl.sub.2                                                                             109  57                                                            cyclopropyl/CH.sub.3                                    160  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          cyclopentyl/CH.sub.3                                                                       oil  68                                     161  1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 /CH.sub.3                                                                oil  69                                     162  1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                            142  70                                     163  1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             phenyl/C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     115  51                                     164  1-CH.sub.3 -3-tC.sub.4 H.sub.9 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  4-F-phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                        oil  75                                     165  1-CH.sub.3 -3-nC.sub.3 H.sub.7 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                  4-F-phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                        oil  79                                     166  1,3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          4-F-phenyl/CH.sub.3                                                                        116  40                                     167  1,3,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          4-F-phenyl/C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                 oil  41                                     168  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.3 /tC.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                  81  32                                     169  1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2 /                                                                       77  42                                                            phenyl                                                  ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES 170 TO 175

By methods analogous to that of example 60, further compounds of the general formula I in which R² represents hydrogen were prepared by reaction of compounds of the general formula H₂ NNR⁷ R⁸ with compounds of the general formula VI. Details are given in Table IX.

                  TABLE IX                                                         ______________________________________                                          ##STR20##                                                                                                        mp   Yield                                  Ex. No.                                                                              R                 R.sup.7 /R.sup.8                                                                          (°C.)                                                                        (%)                                    ______________________________________                                         170   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          H/phenyl   151  48                                     171   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          CH.sub.3 /CH.sub.3                                                                        101  18                                     172   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          H/CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                                                       146  42                                     173   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                          H/3-F-phenyl                                                                              141  46                                     174   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             CH.sub.3 /CH.sub.3                                                                         72  20                                     175   1-CH.sub.3 -3-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                             H/tC.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                        110   5                                     ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 176 Preparation of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(1'-methyl-3'-trifluoromethylpyrazol-5-yloxy)-4-methyl-6-pyridinecarboxamide

(a) Preparation of 6-amino-2-bromo-4-methylpyridine:

To a solution of 50 g 2-methyl-2-chloromethyloxirane in 23 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid at ice-bath temperature a solution of 27.4 g sodium cyanide in 23 ml hydrochloric acid was added. After stirring for 10 hours at that temperature the reaction mixture was warmed to 40° C. and a solution of 33.8 g potassium cyanide in 50 ml water was added. The resulting mixture was warmed to 50° C. and stirred for 4 hours. After cooling the solution was neutralized and extracted three times with 150 ml ethyl acetate each. The combined organic layers were dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate. Removal of the solvent afforded 56.4 g (96%) of 1,3-dicyano-2-methyl-2-hydroxypropane. This crude material was sufficiently pure to be submitted directly to the following ring closure.

56.4 g of 1,3-dicyano-2-methyl-2-hydroxypropane was added carefully to a 33% solution of hydrogen bromide in glacial acetic acid at ice-bath temperature. The reaction mixture was then stirred for 3 days at ambient temperature. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residual oil was brought to pH 12 with a 10 molar aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. This alkaline solution was extracted three times each with 100 ml ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were dried with magnesium sulphate and the solvent removed in vacuo. 56 g (66%) of 6-amino-2-bromo-4-methylpyridine was obtained as a colourless solid of melting point 99° C.

    ______________________________________                                         Analysis:                                                                      ______________________________________                                         C calc.: 38.5          found:  38.3                                            H calc.: 3.8           found:  3.6                                             N calc.: 15.0          found:  14.7                                            ______________________________________                                    

(b) Preparation of 2-bromo-6-chloro-4-methylpyridine:

A solution of 56 g 6-amino-2-bromo-4-methylpyridine in 500 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid was cooled to -50° C. and saturated with gaseous HCl via a gas inlet. Under continuous cooling a solution of 25 g sodium nitrite in 60 ml water was added slowly. The reaction mixture was stirred for a further 2 hours at -50° C. The mixture was allowed to warm up to ambient temperature and set alkaline with a 50% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. The aqueous phase was extracted three times each with 200 ml dichloromethane. The combined extracts were dried with calcium chloride, and the solvent removed in vacuo to afford 22.5 g (40%) of 2-bromo-6-chloro-4-methylpyridine as a pale brown solid of melting point 76° C.

    ______________________________________                                         Analysis:                                                                      ______________________________________                                         C calc.: 34.9          found:  34.6                                            H calc.: 2.4           found:  2.2                                             N calc.: 6.8           found:  6.9                                             ______________________________________                                    

(c) Preparation of 2-chloro-6-cyano-4-methylpyridine:

To a solution of 20.7 g of 2-bromo-6-chloro-4-methylpyridine in 100 ml anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide 9.9 g of copper cyanide was added. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 7 hours. After cooling, the mixture was filtered through a silica gel column with 500 ml ethyl acetate. The obtained solution was washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue purified by silica gel column chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate 1:1. 7.6 g (54%) of the title compound was obtained as a white solid of melting point 133° C.

    ______________________________________                                         Analysis:                                                                      ______________________________________                                         C calc.: 51.3          found:  50.9                                            H calc.: 3.6           found:  3.5                                             N calc.: 19.9          found:  19.7                                            ______________________________________                                    

(d) Preparation of 2-(1'-methyl-3'-trifluoromethylpyrazol-5-yloxy)-6-cyano-4-methylpyridine

7.6 g 2-bromo-6-cyano-4-methylpyridine, 9 g 1-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-5-hydroxypyrazole and 9.7 g potassium carbonate were mixed in 30 ml N,N-dimethylformamide and heated to reflux for 5 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was poured into 300 ml water and the aqueous layer extracted three times each with 100 ml ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and the solvent removed in vacuo. Purification by silica gel column chromatography using hexane/ethyl acetate 7:3 afforded 8.1 g (50%) of the title compound as a pale brown solid of melting point 88° C.

    ______________________________________                                         Analysis:                                                                      ______________________________________                                         C calc.: 51.1          found:  51.0                                            H calc.: 3.2           found:  3.0                                             N calc.: 19.8          found:  19.7                                            ______________________________________                                    

(e) Preparation of 2-(1'-methyl-3'-trifluoromethylpyrazol-5-yloxy)-4-methyl-pyridine-6-carboxylic acid

100 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid was mixed with 7.6 g of 2-(1'-methyl-3'-trtfluoromethylpyrazol-5-yloxy)-6-cyano-4-methylpyridine and heated to reflux for 6 hours. After cooling, the aqueous reaction mixture was extracted three times with 100 ml dichloromethane. The combined extracts were dried with anhydrous calcium chloride. Removal of the solvent in vacuo gave 6.3 g (77%) of the title compound with melting point 168° C.

    ______________________________________                                         Analysis:                                                                      ______________________________________                                         C calc.: 47.8          found:  47.6                                            H calc.: 3.3           found:  3.3                                             N calc.: 14.0          found:  14.2                                            ______________________________________                                    

The product of (e) above was then converted to the final product by the procedure of Example 60. Details of said final product and of a further compound prepared by an analogous method are given in Table X.

                  TABLE X                                                          ______________________________________                                          ##STR21##                                                                                                       mp   Yield                                   Ex. No.                                                                              R                R.sup.1    (°C.)                                                                        (%)                                     ______________________________________                                         176   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                         4-F-phenyl 154  56                                      177   1-CH.sub.3 -3-CF.sub.3 -pyrazol-5-yloxy                                                         cyclopropyl                                                                               110  33                                      ______________________________________                                    

Elemental analysis data for the above compounds are set out in Table XI below.

                  TABLE IX                                                         ______________________________________                                         Analysis (%)                                                                   Ex.     C           H            N                                             No.     Calc.  Found    Calc.                                                                               Found   Calc.                                                                               Found                                ______________________________________                                         1       57.5   57.6     3.2  3.4     11.2 11.2                                 2       62.0   62.1     3.9  4.1     12.0 12.1                                 3       57.5   57.3     3.2  3.5     11.2 11.1                                 4       40.3   40.6     2.5  2.8     11.7 11.6                                 5       64.1   64.0     6.6  6.4     8.3  8.3                                  6       55.0   54.5     4.6  5.0     14.3 14.1                                 7       62.1   62.2     5.9  5.8     9.1  9.1                                  8       53.6   53.6     2.6  2.9     10.4 10.4                                 9       72.9   72.5     5.7  5.4     6.1  5.8                                  10      62.6   62.2     4.6  4.5     17.2 17.2                                 11      66.3   66.1     5.2  5.2     18.2 17.9                                 12      62.6   62.3     4.6  4.7     17.2 16.8                                 13      49.7   50.0     4.2  4.0     17.8 17.7                                 14      63.8   64.0     7.0  6.9     18.6 18.4                                 15      70.0   69.7     6.7  6.7     18.6 18.5                                 16      62.7   62.6     6.7  6.9     18.8 18.9                                 17      61.3   61.2     4.9  4.5     15.1 15.0                                 18      67.8   67.7     6.0  6.0     16.7 16.5                                 19      52.6   53.1     5.0  5.4     16.4 16.0                                 20      60.3   60.3     4.5  4.6     15.6 15.6                                 21      51.2   51.0     4.6  4.9     17.0 16.6                                 22      67.1   66.6     5.6  5.5     17.4 16.9                                 23      62.9   62.9     6.3  6.4     19.6 19.4                                 24      63.5   63.6     5.0  5.0     16.5 16.3                                 25      62.5   62.4     7.0  7.1     19.4 19.1                                 26      61.3   61.3     6.6  6.6     20.4 19.8                                 27      64.0   63.8     6.7  6.6     18.6 18.2                                 28      64.4   64.4     5.4  5.4     15.8 15.8                                 29      61.3   61.4     4.9  4.8     15.0 15.0                                 30      67.8   67.9     6.0  6.1     16.7 16.6                                 31      64.0   63.7     6.7  6.6     18.6 18.5                                 32      63.6   63.0     7.3  7.2     18.5 18.6                                 33      62.5   62.2     7.0  6.6     19.4 18.9                                 34      52.6   53.0     5.0  5.6     16.4 16.7                                 35      64.9   64.8     7.0  7.1     17.8 17.5                                 36      64.9   64.9     7.0  6.9     17.8 17.6                                 37      64.8   64.4     4.9  4.8     15.9 15.5                                 38      69.2   69.7     6.6  6.7     15.4 15.4                                 39      68.4   68.4     6.6  6.3     15.9 15.9                                 40      69.2   68.9     6.6  6.2     15.4 15.3                                 41      61.7   62.0     4.7  4.9     26.1 26.5                                 42      49.3   49.0     2.6  2.6     20.9 20.8                                 43      69.6   70.0     4.4  4.5     20.3 20.3                                 44      61.8   62.3     3.6  3.3     18.0 18.1                                 45      64.4   64.0     5.8  5.6     23.1 23.2                                 46      65.6   65.5     6.3  6.2     21.9 21.9                                 47      69.6   69.4     4.4  4.4     20.3 20.0                                 48      74.5   74.2     4.2  4.2     16.6 16.4                                 49      58.2   58.2     2.7  2.8     17.0 16.7                                 50      70.2   70.3     5.0  4.9     19.0 19.3                                 51      63.2   63.0     5.3  5.6     25.5 25.4                                 52      51.1   50.9     3.2  3.6     19.8 19.4                                 53      56.6   56.1     4.7  4.4     18.0 17.8                                 54      46.0   46.2     2.8  2.7     14.6 14.6                                 55      65.1   64.7     4.5  5.0     14.2 14.4                                 56      65.1   64.7     4.4  4.6     14.2 13.9                                 57      66.0   66.0     4.9  4.9     13.6 13.6                                 58      61.1   61.0     6.2  6.2     15.3 15.4                                 59      48.0   47.6     3.4  3.2     14.0 13.8                                 60      53.7   53.4     3.2  3.0     14.7 14.8                                 61      76.3   76.0     5.1  5.2     11.8 11.7                                 62      56.4   56.2     3.6  3.9     15.5 15.6                                 63      53.7   54.0     3.2  3.4     14.7 14.8                                 64      51.5   52.0     4.0  4.2     17.2 17.1                                 65      42.4   42.8     2.7  2.9     15.2 15.3                                 66      51.3   50.9     2.8  2.9     14.1 14.0                                 67      51.2   50.8     4.6  4.7     17.1 17.0                                 68      51.2   51.0     4.6  4.8     17.1 17.2                                 69      52.6   52.6     5.0  5.1     16.4 16.2                                 70      52.6   52.7     5.0  5.1     16.4 16.3                                 71      44.8   44.8     3.5  3.5     16.1 15.8                                 72      48.1   47.2     3.1  3.3     21.5 21.0                                 73      54.2   54.0     4.8  4.8     15.8 15.6                                 74      48.8   48.8     4.4  4.3     16.3 16.1                                 75      54.5   54.1     4.3  4.3     15.9 15.2                                 76      48.1   48.1     3.7  3.7     18.7 18.5                                 77      44.1   43.9     3.0  3.3     13.8 13.6                                 78      51.9   51.8     3.4  3.5     17.3 17.1                                 79      48.7   48.9     4.2  4.1     17.8 17.8                                 80      66.4   66.8     4.9  4.6     15.1 14.0                                 81      65.0   64.8     4.0  4.1     13.8 13.7                                 82      68.3   68.3     5.4  5.3     16.8 16.4                                 83      52.6   52.6     5.0  5.1     16.4 16.2                                 84      53.9   53.5     5.4  5.4     15.7 15.1                                 85      51.3   51.2     2.8  2.9     14.1 13.9                                 86      49.1   49.4     5.0  5.0     16.3 16.6                                 87      53.9   54.1     5.4  5.4     15.7 15.5                                 88      56.9   57.3     5.4  5.5     15.7 15.8                                 89      67.5   67.7     6.3  6.4     16.0 15.9                                 90      67.8   67.9     6.0  6.1     16.7 16.6                                 91      57.4   57.3     4.0  4.0     14.9 15.0                                 92      65.2   65.4     5.7  5.8     15.2 15.4                                 93      64.4   64.8     5.4  5.8     15.8 15.9                                 94      63.5   63.2     5.0  5.1     16.5 16.3                                 95      62.9   62.7     6.3  6.1     19.6 19.5                                 96      62.6   62.8     4.6  4.7     17.2 17.1                                 97      54.8   54.8     3.6  3.9     14.2 13.9                                 98      57.4   57.4     4.0  4.2     14.9 14.7                                 99      52.9   52.9     4.4  4.9     16.5 16.1                                 100     53.9   53.7     5.4  5.1     15.7 15.6                                 101     52.9   52.5     4.4  5.0     16.5 16.4                                 102     54.2   54.2     4.8  4.7     15.8 15.8                                 103     52.9   52.6     4.4  4.4     16.5 16.3                                 104     52.9   52.8     4.4  4.3     16.5 16.5                                 105     64.9   64.5     7.0  7.2     17.8 17.6                                 106     64.7   64.6     7.4  7.6     17.8 17.6                                 107     63.8   63.8     7.0  6.7     18.6 18.4                                 108     68.5   68.9     6.3  6.3     16.0 16.4                                 109     62.2   61.8     5.2  5.1     14.5 14.4                                 110     49.7   49.4     4.2  4.1     17.8 17.3                                 111     52.3   52.7     5.0  5.1     16.3 16.3                                 112     51.0   51.0     3.6  4.2     15.9 16.0                                 113     56.5   56.2     5.5  5.4     14.6 14.5                                 114     69.8   69.6     6.9  6.8     14.8 14.7                                 115     62.5   62.1     4.6  4.4     17.2 17.1                                 116     51.5   51.4     4.0  4.1     17.2 17.0                                 117     61.8   61.9     5.9  5.9     20.6 20.7                                 118     59.3   59.1     4.1  4.0     16.3 16.0                                 119     68.0   68.3     4.4  4.6     14.4 14.3                                 120     68.0   68.0     4.4  4.5     14.4 14.4                                 121     61.7   61.5     5.9  5.9     20.6 20.4                                 122     62.5   62.0     7.0  7.2     19.4 19.3                                 123     67.8   67.4     6.0  6.1     16.7 16.2                                 124     71.8   71.8     5.2  5.3     14.6 14.5                                 125     68.6   68.2     4.8  4.9     13.9 13.5                                 126     68.2   68.0     5.4  5.7     15.8 15.9                                 127     54.8   54.9     3.6  3.4     14.2 14.2                                 128     52.9   52.5     4.4  4.1     16.5 16.4                                 129     54.2   54.0     4.8  5.0     15.8 15.6                                 130     67.1   66.7     5.6  5.4     17.4 17.1                                 131     63.5   63.5     5.0  4.9     16.5 16.6                                 132     63.5   63.3     5.0  4.8     16.5 16.0                                 133     62.9   62.8     6.3  6.2     19.6 19.3                                 134     60.3   59.9     4.5  4.7     15.6 15.5                                 135     52.5   52.2     4.5  4.8     13.1 13.2                                 136     55.9   56.5     4.0  4.3     13.7 13.8                                 137     57.5   58.0     4.0  4.2     14.9 14.9                                 138     58.6   59.2     4.4  4.6     14.4 14.5                                 139     54.8   54.9     3.6  3.7     14.2 14.2                                 140     52.9   52.6     4.4  4.4     16.5 16.4                                 141     44.0   44.1     3.2  3.2     14.7 14.6                                 142     45.5   45.2     3.6  3.5     14.1 14.2                                 143     52.4   52.6     3.2  3.4     13.6 13.3                                 144     52.6   52.5     5.0  5.4     16.4 16.7                                 145     53.9   53.7     5.4  5.3     15.7 15.7                                 146     52.6   52.2     5.0  5.5     16.4 16.1                                 147     53.9   54.3     5.4  5.6     15.7 15.4                                 148     54.0   53.7     5.4  5.8     15.7 15.4                                 149     55.1   55.4     5.7  6.2     15.1 15.1                                 150     53.9   54.2     5.4  5.5     15.7 15.6                                 151     55.1   55.5     5.7  5.7     15.1 15.2                                 152     69.2   68.8     5.1  5.2     13.4 13.0                                 153     66.3   65.9     4.6  4.9     12.9 12.8                                 154     69.2   68.7     5.1  5.2     13.4 13.3                                 155     71.9   71.7     5.2  5.6     14.6 14.3                                 156     63.5   63.4     7.3  7.2     18.5 18.1                                 157     55.1   55.1     5.7  5.6     15.1 15.0                                 158     50.8   51.0     4.6  4.8     16.9 16.7                                 159     45.5   45.0     3.3  3.5     13.3 13.3                                 160     53.4   53.3     5.0  5.5     14.6 14.7                                 161     58.5   58.7     4.4  4.4     14.3 14.4                                 162     71.9   72.2     5.2  5.4     14.6 14.4                                 163     72.3   72.5     5.6  5.6     14.1 13.9                                 164     65.8   65.4     6.3  6.6     14.6 14.3                                 165     65.2   65.0     5.7  6.0     15.2 14.9                                 166     64.4   64.0     5.4  5.3     15.8 15.9                                 167     65.2   65.5     5.7  6.0     15.2 15.0                                 168     53.9   53.7     4.3  4.0     13.9 13.8                                 169     59.7   59.4     4.3  4.2     13.9 13.6                                 170     54.1   54.1     3.7  3.8     18.6 18.2                                 171     47.4   47.0     4.3  4.6     21.3 21.4                                 172     40.7   40.3     2.9  2.9     18.3 18.2                                 173     51.6   51.0     3.3  3.3     17.7 17.4                                 174     64.1   64.1     5.7  5.8     20.8 21.0                                 175     65.7   65.5     6.3  6.4     19.1 18.7                                 176     54.8   54.8     3.6  3.5     14.2 14.0                                 177     52.9   52.6     4.4  4.2     16.5 16.6                                 ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 178

Herbicidal Activity

To evaluate their herbicidal activity, compounds according to the invention were tested using a representative range of plants: maize, Zea mays (Mz); rice, Oryza sativa (R); barnyard grass, Echinochloa crusgalli (BG); oat, Avena sativa (O); linseed, Linum usitatissimum (L); mustard, Sinapsis alba (M); sugar beet, Beta vulgaris (SB); and soya bean, Glycine max (S).

The tests fall into two categories, pre-emergence and post-emergence. The pre-emergence tests involved spraying a liquid formulation of the compound onto the soil in which the seeds of the plant species mentioned above had recently been sown. The post-emergence tests involved two types of test, viz., soil drench and foliar spray tests. In the soil drench tests the soil in which the seedling plants of the above species were growing was drenched with a liquid formulation containing a compound of the invention, and in the foliar spray tests the seedling plants were sprayed with such a formulation.

The soil used in the tests was a prepared horticultural loam. The formulations used in the tests were prepared from solutions of the test compounds in acetone containing 0.4% by weight of an alkylphenol/ethylene oxide condensate available under the trade mark TRITON X-155. These acetone solutions were diluted with water and the resulting formulations applied at dosage levels corresponding to 5 kg or 1 kg of active material per hectare in a volume equivalent to 600 liters per hectare in the soil spray and foliar spray test, and at a dosage of level equivalent to 10 kilograms of active material per hectare in a volume equivalent to approximately 3,000 liters per hectare in the soil drench tests.

In the pre-emergence tests untreated sown soil and in the post-emergence tests untreated soil bearing seedling plants were used as controls.

The herbicidal effects of the test compounds were assessed visually twelve days after spraying the foliage and the soil, and thirteen days after drenching the soil and were recorded on a 0-9 scale. A rating 0 indicates growth as untreated control, a rating 9 indicates death. An increase of 1 unit on the linear scale approximates to a 10% increase in the level of effect.

The results of the tests are set out in Table XII below, in which the compounds are identified by reference to the preceding Examples. Absence of a numeral in the Table indicates a zero rating; an asterisk indicates that no result was obtained.

                                      TABLE XII                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Compound                                                                       of    Soil drench 10 kg/ha                                                                           Dosage                                                                             Foliar spray    Pre-emergence                        Ex. No.                                                                              Mz                                                                               R BG                                                                               O L M SB                                                                               S kg/ha                                                                              Mz                                                                               R BG                                                                               O L M SB                                                                               S Mz                                                                               R BG                                                                               O L M SB                                                                               S                      __________________________________________________________________________      10   7 7 6 6 5 6 9 3 5   7 5 9 4 8 8 9 7 5 4 9 7 8 9 8 4                                            1   5 2 7 3 7 7 9 6 2       3                                                                              8                                                                              5                                                                              6 9 7 2                       11   7 6 5 4 4 6 3 2 5   7 5 7 5 7 9 9 8 7       7                                                                              6                                                                              4                                                                              3 7 7 2                                            1   4 3 5 3 7 8 9 7 6       6                                                                              6                                                                              2                                                                              2 5 3                         12   5 2 5 4 2 3 7   5   7 5 7 4 6 8 9 7         1 2                                                1   5 3 5 3 6 8 9 6         1 1                           13   7 4 7 3 6 7 9 7 5   3 2 7 3 7 9 8 7 9       3                                                                              9                                                                              3                                                                              6 9 9 7                                            1   2   2   5 8 8 6 2       6                                                                              4 8 8 6                       23   7 7 7 6 7 8 9 8 5   4   8 5 6 9 9 7 8       7                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              8 7 9 8                                            1   2   7 4 5 8 9 6 8       4                                                                              8                                                                              4                                                                              5 4 5 4                       24   6 5 7 6 4 8 9 2 5   6   7 5 9 9 9 7 5       2                                                                              9                                                                              6                                                                              7 9 9 6                                            1   2   7 2 8 8 9 6 4       8                                                                              2                                                                              5 9 8 2                       25   8 7 5 4 6 9 8 8 5   5 2 8 3 5 9 8 8 7       4                                                                              8                                                                              4                                                                              5 8 9 7                                            1   2   6   4 7 7 8 5       5                                                                              3 2 8 2                       26   8 4 8 5 6 8 8 8 5   3 2 8 4 5 8 8 8 8       6                                                                              8                                                                              8                                                                              4 6 8 4                                            1   1   5   3 6 6 7 5       2                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              2 5 8 2                       27   6 4 5 4 3 6 7 6 5   4   8 2 5 8 7 7 8       2                                                                              8                                                                              4 3 5 2                                            1   3   3 2 4 6 7 6 2       6                             28   5 2 7 4 4 7 8 1 5   6 4 9 6 8 9 9 8 5       2                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              7 9 8 2                                            1   5 4 8 5 8 9 9 8 4       8                                                                              6                                                                              5 9 8                         29   4 4 7 5 2 5 6 1 5   7 5 9 6 7 9 9 7 4       8                                                                              7                                                                              4 9 9 2                                            1   6 3 8 5 7 9 9 7 4       8                                                                              6                                                                              4 9 9                         30   5 5 7 7 3 7 7 1 5   6 1 8 5 8 9 9 7 4       9                                                                              6                                                                              8 9 9 2                                            1   5   7 5 7 9 9 7 4       8                                                                              5                                                                              4 9 8                         31   8 6 8 5 8 9 8 8 5   7 4 9 3 8 8 9 8 8       4                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              5 8 9 4                                            1   5   8 3 7 8 9 8 7       2                                                                              7                                                                              6                                                                              4 6 8 2                       32   8 5 8 7 6 8 8 7 5   6 4 9 4 7 9 9 8 7       4                                                                              8                                                                              3                                                                              2 7 9 2                                            1   5 4 7 3 5 9 8 8 6       6 2 5                         33   8 7 8 7 5 8 9 8 5   7   9 5 8 9 8 8 7       5                                                                              9                                                                              4                                                  1   2   5 2 6 7 7 8 6       4                                                                              8                             34   8 7 8 8 4 8 9 8 5   7 2 9 5 8 9 9 8 8       6                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              8 9 8 6                                            1   5   8 3 6 8 9 7 7       5                                                                              8                                                                              5                                                                              2 8 8 2                       35   6 3 7 2 3 7 4 5 5   6 2 9 4 6 9 8 7 7       2                                                                              8                                                                              1 8 2 1                                            1   4   6 2 5 8 7 6 2       5 2                           36   4   5     2   3 5   5   8 3 5 8 7 7 4       8                                                                              2 5 2 1                                            1   3   4 3 2 4 6 5         2                             37   6 5 8 7 3 5 6 2 5   5   8 6 8 9 9 7 5       7                                                                              4                                                                              6 9 9 4                                            1   4   7 5 8 8 9 6 2       5                                                                              2                                                                              5 9 8 2                       39   6 2 8 6 7 8 8 5 5   5 3 9 6 8 9 9 8 6       2                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              6 9 8 3                                            1   4   6 3 7 8 8 8 4       6                                                                              5                                                                              6 7 6                         41                   5   3   6   2 6 6 6                                                            1       5     6 5 4                                       42   4   3 2 4 3 5 6 5   4   6 4 5 7 8 8 6       8                                                                              4                                                                              5 8 9 4                                            1   2   5 2 4 6 8 7 5       7                                                                              2 7 6                         43   3 2 3     2 3   5   3   5 4 5 7 9 6         2                                                                              3 2 2                                              1   2   2   4 5 7 5                                       44                   5           2 7 5 4                                                            1           1 6 2 2                                       45                   5   2   3 2 4 5 6 7                                                            1       2   2 4 2 5                                       46   4   5   4 5 4 3 5   3   6 3 6 7 8 8 4       6                                                                              4 7 9 6                                            1       2   5 6 7 7         2 5 4 2                       47                   5   3   2 4 6 7 9 4                                                            1         2 5 5 7 2                                       48                   5   4   4 3 5 7 8 5           2 2                                              1   3   2 2 4 7 6 4                                       49                   5   2   2   3 8 4 3                                                            1             7 2                                         60   5 4 5 6 2 5 5   5   5 4 8 7 6 8 9 8 5       7                                                                              5                                                                              3 8 9 3                                            1   3 1 8 5 5 8 9 7 2       6                                                                              5                                                                              2 7 9 2                       61   1 1 3 4   2 7 1 5   5 4 8 6 5 8 9 8 2       3                                                                              1                                                                              2 8 8 4                                            1   4 4 6 5 5 8 9 7 2       1                                                                              1                                                                              2 8 8                         62   4 3 7 6 2 5 6   5   6 5 9 8 9 9 9 8 4       3                                                                              8                                                                              6                                                                              5 9 9 4                                            1   5 2 9 7 8 9 9 7 2       2                                                                              7                                                                              4                                                                              5 8 8 2                       63   4 2 7 7 3 3 6 2 5   7 4 9 6 8 9 9 7 4       3                                                                              6                                                                              4                                                                              7 9 9 6                                            1   5   8 5 7 9 9 6 2       5                                                                              2                                                                              6 9 8 5                       64   * * * * * * * * 5   8 6 9 8 8 9 9 8 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   8 2 9 6 8 9 9 8 7       7                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              7 9 9 5                       65   7 6 8 7 5 8 9 7 5   8 7 9 9 9 9 9 8 8       9                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 8                                            1   7 6 9 8 9 9 9 8 7       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              9 9 9 8                       66   6   4 3   2 6 2 5   6 4 7 8 8 9 9 8 5       3                                                                              7                                                                              4                                                                              4 8 8 4                                            1   4 2 7 8 8 9 9 7 2       6                                                                              2                                                                              2 7 8 2                       67   7 6 8 7 4 6 9 7 5   9 8 8 8 8 9 9 8 9       9                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   7 8 8 8 7 9 9 8 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              9 9 9 8                       68   7 7 8 7 4 6 4 6 5   8 8 8 8 8 9 9 8 9       9                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   7 7 7 8 8 9 9 8 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              8 9 9 9                       69   7 6 7 6 5 8 7 2 5   8 7 7 8 8 9 9 8 8       7                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              8 9 9 9                                            1   7 6 7 8 8 9 9 8 8       7                                                                              8                                                                              8                                                                              8 9 9 8                       70   7 2 7 6 5 7 5 6 5   8 8 9 9 8 9 9 8 9       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   6 7 7 8 8 9 9 8 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              8 9 9 8                       71   7 6 7 8 6 8 9 6 5   8 6 7 6 7 9 9 9 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              6 9 9 9                                            1   6 5 6 5 6 8 9 8 7       7                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              2 8 9 4                       72   6 5 7 6 2 7 6 7 5   4 4 6 2 6 8 8 9 8       4                                                                              6                                                                              4                                                                              5 6 9 7                                            1   2   5   5 7 7 8 6       5                                                                              3                                                                              4 5 8 2                       73   8 4 6 7 6 7 9 5 5   8 6 8 5 7 8 8 9 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              7 9 9 9                                            1   6 5 7 4 6 8 8 9 7       4                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              7 9 9 7                       74   8 7 8 7 5 7 8 8 5   8 4 8 4 7 8 9 9 9       9                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              5 9 9 6                                            1   5 2 7 2 7 8 8 9 8       8                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              4 9 9 5                       75   7 6 8 7 6 7 8 6 5   7 6 8 7 8 9 9 9 8       6                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              6 9 9 7                                            1   6 5 7 7 8 9 9 9 7       5                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              5 8 9 6                       76   9 8 8 8 7 9 8 8 5   7 6 8 7 8 9 9 9 9       9                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   4 5 7 6 7 9 9 8 9       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              7 9 9 8                       77   6 6 7 7 6 6 4 2 5   8 6 8 8 9 9 9 9 6       4                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              6 9 9 5                                            1   7 5 8 7 9 9 9 8 5       2                                                                              7                                                                              6                                                                              5 9 9 4                       78   7 6 8 7 6 9 9 7 5   7 4 9 8 8 9 9 9 9       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              6 9 9 8                                            1   6 2 8 7 8 9 9 8 7       6                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              5 8 8 7                       79   8 8 9 8 7 9 9 8 5   9 7 9 8 9 9 9 9 9       9                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   8 6 8 8 9 9 9 8 9       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              7 9 9 9                       80                   5   2   3   2 4 4 4                                                            1             2 2 2                                       81       3 2 2 3 4   5   6 4 7 4 6 8 9 7         2 4 7                                              1   5 2 6 2 5 8 9 7           2 6                         82   7 6 7 6 4 7 6 4 5   4 2 7 5 6 9 9 8 4       6                                                                              4                                                                              3 2 4                                              1   3   7 4 6 8 9 8 2       2                                                                              2   2                         83   7 7 6 5 6 9 8 2 5   8 8 9 8 7 9 9 9 7       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   7 7 8 8 7 8 9 9 7       7                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              4 9 9 8                       84   7 6 7 6 4 6 5 3 5   6 6 8 6 7 9 9 9 7       4                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              4 9 9 4                                            1   5 4 7 6 7 9 9 9 6       2                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              2 7 8 2                       85   6 3 5 7 2 4 7 2 5   7 4 7 6 4 9 9 9 3       7                                                                              4                                                                              4 7 9 2                                            1   2 2 7 5 4 9 9 8 2       7                                                                              3                                                                              2 6 8                         86   * * * * * * * * 5   8 6 8 8 8 9 9 8 9       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   7 5 7 8 8 9 9 8 8       7                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              8 9 9 7                       87   6 6 7 6 5 7 6 3 5   8 6 8 6 8 9 9 8 6       4                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              6 9 9 7                                            1   4 2 7 5 8 9 9 8 2       2                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              5 9 9 4                       88   7 6 7 6 4 3 7 4 5   6 4 9 6 4 9 9 8 7       4                                                                              9                                                                              4                                                                              3 3 9 4                                            1   5 2 6 5 2 8 8 7 2       2                                                                              8                                                                              2 2 8 2                       89   6   4 3   2     5   5   8 6 5 8 9 7         4                                                                              3 8 7                                              1   4   2 5 5 8 9 7         2 7 7                         90   6   5 6 4   2   5   6   7 4 6 8 7 6 3       4 6 4                                              1   * * * * * * * * *       *                                                                              *                                                                              *                                                                              * * * *                       91   4 6 7 6   4 2   5   4   6 4 7 7 9 9 4       2                                                                              6 8 8 2                                            1   2   2 2 6 6 8 8 2       5 7 8                         92   6 4 5 2 2 6 5   5   5 5 8 4 9 9 9 6 4       2                                                                              8                                                                              6                                                                              5 9 9 4                                            1   4 2 8 2 7 9 9 5 2       4                                                                              2                                                                              4 9 8 2                       93   7 6 7 3 2 6 5   5   7 2 8 6 9 9 9 7 5       2                                                                              7                                                                              6                                                                              7 9 9 2                                            1   5 2 7 5 7 9 9 6 4       5                                                                              5                                                                              6 8 8                         94                   5       7     7 8 4                                                            1       2     5 2                                         95                   5   2   3   2 7 8 5                                                            1             2 2 2                                      110   7 6 8 8 6 8 7 9 5   5   8 4 6 9 9 9 9       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              5 9 9 9                                            1   4   6 3 5 9 8 8 8       6                                                                              2                                                                              8                                                                              4 6 8 2                      111   7 6 8 8 6 9 9 9 5   7 7 8 6 7 9 9 9 9       9                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              6 9 9 8                                            1   2 3 6 5 6 9 8 8 8       6                                                                              7                                                                              8                                                                              5 9 9 8                      112       2   3 5 4 3 5   4   3 3 4 9 8 7 3       4                                                                              3                                                                              2 4 9 3                                            1   3   1   3 7 6 5         2 2 2                        115   5 6 6 5 5 6 7 4 5   7 4 8 6 7 9 9 7 4       5                                                                              7                                                                              4                                                                              3 9 7 4                                            1   6 2 7 5 6 8 9 7 3       2                                                                              5                                                                              2                                                                              2 7 6 2                      116   8 8 8 8 7 9 9 8 5   7 5 7 7 7 9 9 8 7       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   6 4 7 6 7 8 8 8 7       7                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              8 9 9 8                      117   7 4 6 3 5 6 8 7 5   7   8 5 7 8 9 8 7       4                                                                              7                                                                              5                                                                              4 8 9 7                                            1   2   2 1 5 8 9 8         2 5 8 4                      118   6 4 6 4 2 3 4   5   6 5 8 6 5 9 9 4 2       6                                                                              4                                                                              5 8 7                                              1   5 2 7 5 5 9 8 3         2                                                                              4 8 6                        119   2   7 5   6 9 2 5   5   8 6 6 9 9 6 4       6                                                                              4                                                                              6                                                                              7 9 4                                              1   4   8 5 5 9 9 5 1       6                                                                              4                                                                              3                                                                              7 9 2                        120                   5             2   2         5                                                                              2 4                                                1                           2                            121           3 4 3 2 5   3   5 2 5 7 6 7 1       3                                                                              2                                                                              1 3 4 1                                            1   2   4   5 5 5 6           2 2                        122   4 2 3 2 3 6 4 5 5   4 3 8 4 5 6 7 6 5       4                                                                              6                                                                              4 7 9 6                                            1   2   2 2 4 5 6 5         2 2 2 2                      123   4   6 5 4 6 5   5   6 4 9 4 7 8 9 8 5       2                                                                              7                                                                              2                                                                              3 6 6 4                                            1   5 2 7 2 7 8 8 7 4       2                                                                              2 5 2 2                      124   6   6 3   2 2   5   2 1 6 4 6 8 7 6           4 7                                              1       5 2 5 7 6 5           2 6                        125                   5   2   6 4 4 8 9 6           6 4                                              1   1   5 2 2 7 6 6           5 2                        126   4   6     2 3   5   6   5 4 7 8 8 7 3       4                                                                              2 6 8                                              1   5   4 2 5 7 7 6         2 6 7                        127   * * * * * * * * 5   5 6 7 8 7 9 9 8 7       4                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              9 9 9 8                                            1   2 2 7 8 7 8 7 8 5       2                                                                              8                                                                              5                                                                              8 8 9 4                      128   8 8 7 7 4 9 9 8 5   5 4 9 7 7 7 9 8 7       7                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 9                                            1   2 2 7 2 6 7 8 8 6       4                                                                              6                                                                              8                                                                              6 9 9 8                      129   8 7 7 8 7 8 9 8 5   7 6 9 8 7 9 9 8 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 8                                            1   5 2 8 7 7 9 9 8 7       7                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              8 9 9 8                      130   5 4 2 6 6 7 5 6 5   4   4 5 6 8 9 8 7       4                                                                              6                                                                              7                                                                              4 9 8 6                                            1       2   4 7 7 8 2       2                                                                              5                                                                              2 8 7 4                      131   5   6 7 5 7 4 6 5   4 3 8 6 7 9 9 8 7       5                                                                              7                                                                              7                                                                              5 9 8 7                                            1   2   2 5 5 9 8 7 6       2                                                                              2                                                                              6                                                                              2 9 2 2                      132   6 4 7 5 6 7 7 6 5   4   7 5 7 8 9 8 7       5                                                                              7                                                                              8                                                                              5 9 9 6                                            1   2   2 4 6 8 7 7 6       2                                                                              2                                                                              2 9 8 2                      133           2 5 6 4 5   6   4 3 2 7 9 8           6 7 5                                            1           1 6 6 6           2 4 2                      134   5   4 3 2 7 2 5 5   5   9 6 5 9 9 8 5       7                                                                              2                                                                              1 9 8 5                                            1   2   7 2 4 9 8 6 2       2 8 6 2                      135   3   5 4 6 4 6   5   6 3 9 8 8 9 9 6 4       2                                                                              6                                                                              4                                                                              7 9 9 6                                            1   4   8 6 7 9 9 6 1       5                                                                              2                                                                              6 8 9 2                      136   5 6 7 5 3 6 7 4 5   6 5 9 7 7 9 9 8 5       4                                                                              6                                                                              4                                                                              6 9 9 6                                            1   4 2 9 6 7 9 9 7 4       2                                                                              5                                                                              2                                                                              2 7 9 2                      137   6 5 7 6 5 7 6 5 5   7 6 9 9 9 9 9 8 7       6                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 7                                            1   6 5 8 8 9 9 9 8 6       5                                                                              8                                                                              8                                                                              8 9 9 7                      138   4 3 4 6 5 6 7 5 5   7 6 9 8 9 9 9 7 6       6                                                                              8                                                                              8                                                                              9 9 9 6                                            1   5 2 8 7 8 9 9 7 5       2                                                                              7                                                                              7                                                                              8 9 9 6                      139   6 5 7 5 6 4 9 6 5   7 6 9 8 9 9 9 8 7       6                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              9 9 9 8                                            1   5 2 9 7 8 9 9 7 6       4                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              8 9 9 6                      140   5 4 6 8 4 6 7 8 5   5 3 9 5 8 9 9 8 8       7                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              7 9 9 7                                            1   4   6 4 7 9 9 8 6       4                                                                              8                                                                              6                                                                              4 8 9 6                      141   4 6 7 7 4 7 9 6 5   5 4 7 6 7 9 9 8 7       5                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              6 9 9 7                                            1   2 2 3 5 5 8 9 8 6       4                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              5 9 9 6                      142   7 4 8 4 6 7 8 8 5   6 4 7 9 8 9 9 8 7       6                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 7                                            1   4 2 7 8 8 9 9 8 5       5                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              6 9 9 6                      143   4   6 4 6 5 9 6 5   6 4 8 8 8 9 9 8 6       5                                                                              7                                                                              7                                                                              7 9 9 7                                            1   5 3 7 7 8 9 9 7 6       4                                                                              7                                                                              6                                                                              7 9 9 6                      144   4   6 5   4 8 6 5   5 3 9 7 8 9 9 8 9       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              6 9 9 8                                            1   4   7 7 7 9 9 8 8       6                                                                              7                                                                              8                                                                              5 9 9 7                      145   7 5 7 7 5 6 9 6 5   7 8 9 8 8 9 9 8 9       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              8 9 9 9                                            1   6 7 7 8 8 9 9 8 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              6 9 9 8                      146   7   6 8 4 7 7 8 5   5   8 5 6 9 9 8 9       5                                                                              8                                                                              9                                                                              4 9 9 8                                            1   2   7 4 5 9 9 8 8       1                                                                              5                                                                              8                                                                              2 8 9 7                      147   7 4 7 7 7 7 9 8 5   7 4 8 9 7 9 9 8 8       8                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 8                                            1   2   7 7 6 9 9 8 7       7                                                                              8                                                                              8                                                                              8 9 9 8                      148   6 2 7 6 4 6 8 7 5   6 4 8 7 7 9 9 8 8       7                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              7 9 9 8                                            1   2   7 7 6 9 9 7 7       6                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              5 9 9 7                      149   7 4 8 7 6 5 9 7 5   7 4 8 8 7 9 9 8 8       7                                                                              9                                                                              9                                                                              9 9 9 8                                            1   6 2 7 8 7 9 9 8 7       6                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              7 9 9 6                      150   4   3   2 5 7 6 5   5 3 9 6 5 9 9 8 5       2                                                                              3                                                                              8                                                                              4 9 9 6                                            1   3   2 2 2 7 8 8 2       2                                                                              6                                                                              2 7 9 5                      151   7 3 7 5 7 6 9 7 5   6 5 8 7 7 9 9 8 7       6                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              9 9 9 8                                            1   4 1 6 3 7 9 9 8 6       2                                                                              7                                                                              6                                                                              8 9 9 7                      152                   5   3   2 1 2 4 1 2                                                            1       1   1 2                                          153             2     5   4   5   4 8 6 6         2                                                                              1 6                                                1   2   2   2 4 4 2           2                          154   * * * * * * * * 5           3 2 3 2                                                            1             2                                          155                   5             4   2                                                            1             2                                          156                   5   2   6   5 8 6 8           3 2 1                                            1       5   2 6 6 7                                      157   8 6 7 7 6 8 9 8 5   7 4 8 7 7 9 9 9 8       6                                                                              9                                                                              8                                                                              8 8 9 9                                            1   2   7 6 7 8 9 8 7       5                                                                              9                                                                              7                                                                              6 8 9 8                      158   7 4 6 7 5 9 9 6 5   6 4 9 6 8 9 9 9 9       6                                                                              8                                                                              8                                                                              6 8 9 9                                            1   5 2 8 5 4 9 8 7 8       5                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              5 8 8 8                      159   6 5 6 7 2 6 7 5 5   6   8 7 9 9 9 9 7       6                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              4 9 9 8                                            1   5   8 6 8 9 9 9 6       2                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              3 9 9 6                      160   8   6 6 4 6 8 8 5   7   7 5 6 9 9 9 8       8                                                                              8                                                                              7                                                                              4 9 9 6                                            1   6   5 4 5 8 9 9 8       4                                                                              3                                                                              2                                                                              2 9 9 2                      162   6 6 7 4 3 7 6 1 5   5   7 5 7 9 8 7 4       1                                                                              7                                                                              4                                                                              2 9 9 4                                            1   4   2 2 7 9 8 6         6                                                                              2                                                                              1 9 8 2                      163   2 2 5 2 4 5 6 2 5   6   7 5 8 9 9 5 2       5                                                                              2                                                                              4 9 9                                              1   2   2 4 7 9 8 4         2                                                                              1                                                                              2 8 8                        164   7 6 7 4 6 7 6 5 5   6   7 7 6 8 9 8 4       7                                                                              6                                                                              5 9 9 5                                            1   5   6 3 5 7 9 7 2       5                                                                              2                                                                              4 8 9                        165   5 4 6 5 3 7 7 6 5   6   9 5 6 8 9 8 5       6                                                                              7                                                                              5                                                                              4 8 9                                              1   5   4 2 4 8 9 6         2                                                                              2 4 2                        166                   5   4   5 1 2 7 6 5 4       5                                                                              1 6 7                                              1   2   2     5 2 2         2 2 5                        170       2     3 2 3 5   5   6 5 6 9 8 7         3                                                                              2                                                                              3 8 9 2                                            1   4   5 3 5 8 7 6         1 6 8                        171   6   4 3 5 8 7 6 5   3   4 3 6 8 9 9 6       2                                                                              4 3 8 6                                            1   * * * * * * * * *       *                                                                              *                                                                              *                                                                              * * * *                      172   7 6 6 7 3 8 8 6 5   4 3 6 4 6 9 9 9 4       5                                                                              6                                                                              5                                                                              3 9 9 5                                            1   2   5 3 5 9 9 8 3       4                                                                              4                                                                              5                                                                              3 9 8 4                      173   3   2 1 1 2 3   5   4   3 2 4 8 9 7           4 3 2                                            1   2       3 8 8 6           2 2                        174   2   4 2 3 4 2 2 5   5 3 7 5 9 8 9 8 1       2                                                                              2 4 4 4                                            1   4   4 4 7 8 9 7           2   2                      175   5   2 2 4 5 4   5   4 1 2 4 4 8 7 5                                                            1   * * * * * * * * *       *                                                                              *                                                                              *                                                                              * * * *                      __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A compound of the formula I ##STR22## in which Z represents an oxygen or sulphur atom,R¹ and R² each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀ aryl, C₆₋₁₀ arylC₁₋₁₀ alkyl or C₁₋₁₀ alkylC₆₋₁₀ aryl group or one but not both of R¹ and R² may additionally represent a hydroxy group or an optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy, C₂₋₁₀ alkenyloxy, C₂₋₁₀ alkynyloxy, C₁₋₁₀ alkylcarbonyl, amino, mono- or di-C₁₋₁₀ alkylamino, C₁₋₁₀ alkoxycarbonylamino, C₆₋₁₀ arylamino, C₆₋₁₀ arylC₁₋₁₀ alkylamino or diC₁₋₁₀ alkylcarbamoyl group, R³ independently represents a halogen atom, a C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy, C₁₋₁₀ alkylthio, diC₁₋₁₀ alkylamino or C₁₋₁₀ haloalkyl group, R⁴ represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, an optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀ aryl, C₆₋₁₀ arylC₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₁₋₁₀ alkylC₆₋₁₀ aryl, C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy, diC₁₋₁₀ alkylcarbamoyl, acyl or a cyano group, R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, an optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl)C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀ aryl, C₆₋₁₀ arylC₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₁₋₁₀ alkylC₆₋₁₀ aryl, C₁₋₁₀ alkoxy, amino, mono-or di-C₁₋₁₀ alkylamino, C₁₋₁₀ alkoxycarbonylamino, C₆₋₁₀ arylamino, diC₁₋₁₀ alkylcarbamoyl group, and n represents 0, 1, 2 or 3, and in which said optional substituents are selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms or nitro, cyano, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ haloalkoxy, formyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl, carboxyl, phenyl or amino groups, said amino optionally substituted by one or two groups selected from C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀ aryl, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl)C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀ arylC₁₋₁₀ alkyl, and C₁₋₁₀ alkylC₆₋₁₀ aryl.
 2. A compound according to claim 1, in which Z represents an oxygen atom.
 3. A compound according to claim 1 in which R¹ and R² each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₂₋₈ alkenyl, C₂₋₈ alkynyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl) C₁₋₈ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, phenyl, naphthyl, phen-C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₈ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ dialkylamino or phenylamino group, each group optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms, C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylamino, C₁₋₄ dialkylamino, cyano or phenyl amino groups.
 4. A compound according to claim 1 in which R³ represents a methyl, methoxy, methylthio or dimethylamino group.
 5. A compound according to claim 1 in which R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₁₋₄ acyl, C₂₋₄ alkenyl, phenyl or naphthyl group, each group optionally substituted by one, more halogen atoms or C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₄ alkylamino, C₁₋₄ dialkylamino or C₆₋₁₀ aryl amino groups.
 6. A herbicidal composition which comprises, as active ingredient, a compound as claimed in claim 1, together with at least one carrier.
 7. The composition of claim 6 which comprises at least two carriers, at least one of which is a surface active agent.
 8. A method of combating undesired plant growth at a locus, which comprises treating the locus with a compound as claimed in claim
 1. 9. A method of combating undesired plant growth at a locus, which comprises treating the locus with a composition as claimed in claim
 8. 10. A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula I as defined in claim 1, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula II, ##STR23## or an activated derivative thereof wherein the hydroxy group of the acid function is replaced by a leaving group selected from the group consisting of halogen, C₁₋₄ alkoxy and imidazole group, and in which R³ and n are as defined in claim 1, and Q represents a leaving group selected from the group consisting of halogen, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkyl or aryl-sulphonium group, and C₁₋₆ alkyl or aryl-sulphonic acid group, with a compound of the formula III

    HNR.sup.1 R.sup.2                                          III

in which the substituents are as defined in claim 1 and, followed by reaction of the product thus obtained with a compound of the formula ##STR24## in which the substituents are defined in claim 1, while in the case that R¹ and/or R² represents a hydrogen atom, the hydrogen atom may be exchanged by another substituent within the definition of R¹ and/or R² by reaction with an alkylating agent. 